Politics
Assembly Constitutes Committee On Mile 1 Market
A plenary session and an oversight function were the major activities of the Rivers State House of Assembly last week.
The House last Tuesday held its normal plenary session where a petition by the member representing Port Harcourt Constituency III, Hon. Victor Ihunwo, was presented to the Assembly to stop the proposed election of the executive of the Mile 3 Market in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In his prayer, Hon. Ihunwo sought the intervention of the 8th Assembly to stop the election that was said to have been scheduled by the Authority of the Port Harcourt Local Government Council to elect the new executive that will pilot the affairs of the market in the area.
According to him, the proposed election was in controversy as some traders of the market were kicking against the election as the condition given to it was contrary to the provisions of the constitution of the market association.
He said, if the election was allowed to be conducted, it would breach the law and will not create the enabling environment for traders in the market.
Presiding, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani constituted a four-member adhoc committee headed by the lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Michael Chinda, to handle the petition.
The Speaker also directed the Committee to stop the election to forestall probable breakdown of law and order in the area.
He charged the Committee to submit its report in the next plenary session of the House.
Last Wednesday, the House Committee on Environment was led by its chairman, Hon. Christian Ahiakwo on a visit to Notore Chemical Industries Plc at Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State as part of the Assembly’s oversight function.
At the interactive session with the management of the company, Hon. Ahiakwo said the Committee’s visit was part of the Assembly’s moves to ensure that all companies operating in the state comply with the environmental laws to save lives and protect the environment for a viable economy.
The House Committee members were conducted round the company’s premises to inspect its facilities and ascertain the living condition of the people residing around there.
The committee Chairman commended the management of the company for ensuring that its activities are environment-friendly.
He also commended the company for its strict compliance with the environmental laws and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with host communities in the areas of employment, community development, scholarships among others.
Earlier, the company’s plant manager, Alaye Lawson thanked the Committee for its effort at ensuring that companies operating in the state complied with the environmental laws and other agreements with host communities in the State.
The company’s manager promised that the firm would always adhere to all agreements and laws that guide the company’s operation in the State.
He said presently, the company’s operations have no negative effect on the environment or the people.
Enoch Epelle
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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